County Redistricting Commissions Chooses Final Draft Map

Santa Barbara County’s districts are about to change significantly, resolving a long-held belief that the existing Third District, which previously included Isla Vista, parts of Goleta, as well as mostly northern county communities, was too unwieldy with widely differing communities of interest. The Chamber, through our Public Policy Committee, has closely monitored the progress of the independent commission charged with making the decision. This new process, as opposed to the old process involving elected officials, gathered maps submitted by the community and relied on public comment to help guide the independent commission through the decision process. The Chamber proposed support for maps that kept our local college communities together, preserved the integrity of our coastal communities, and best maintained community identity throughout Santa Barbara County. While this final map differs from previously supported maps in some ways, it is in line with the Chamber’s preferences by including Isla Vista in the Second District, making minimal coastal splits allowed by population distribution, and generally keeping communities of interest together. The commission will hold their final meeting tonight, Wednesday, December 8th, at 6 p.m. to formally adopt the map. To view the map, click here.